Control Gmail and Photos Data in Google Ads Settings

Google updated its Privacy Policy on October 16, 2026. The change adds an exception that can let connected Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos data influence the ads you see if you enable Personal Intelligence features in Search or Gemini.

By default, Google still does not use content from those services to personalize ads. The exception applies only when you choose to make that data available to other Google services that support personalized ads. Advertisers do not receive your raw emails, photos, or personal identifiers such as your name or email address.

This guide shows you how to review and control those connections and ad settings.

What the Policy Change Means

Google’s policy now states that you may allow services like Search or Gemini Apps to access data from Google Photos and Workspace apps such as Gmail and Drive for a more personalized experience. Search may process some of that data to personalize content, including ads.

A related line notes that Google does not show personalized ads based on content from Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads.

Personal Intelligence is the feature that connects apps so Gemini and Search can draw on your own information for more relevant answers and recommendations. Connecting is optional and off by default. You decide which apps to link and can disconnect them at any time.

Google’s help materials indicate that ads are not based directly on your full Gmail inbox or Photos library. Instead, Search may use summaries, excerpts, and inferences, and that same information may help shape ads.

Check Your Personal Intelligence Connections in Gemini

Start by reviewing what apps are connected in the Gemini app or on the web.

1. Open the Gemini app or go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your personal Google Account.
2. Tap or click your profile picture or the settings menu.
3. Select Personal Intelligence, then Connected Apps.
4. Review the toggles for Contacts, Google Photos, Google Wallet, Google Workspace, Search services, and YouTube.
5. Turn off any app you do not want Gemini to use for personalization.

Disconnecting an app stops new personalization from that source. Past chats that already used the information may still influence responses until you delete them from Gemini Apps Activity.

You can also turn Personal Intelligence off for an individual chat by using the Tools menu in the text box and disabling the option for that conversation.

Manage Connected Apps and Search Personalization

Personal Intelligence also affects Search. Google provides controls for Search Services personalization.

Visit your Google Account activity controls or Search settings to review personalized recommendations. Turning off personalized recommendations in Search Services can limit how connected data influences Search results and related experiences.

If you previously enabled connections for Gemini, check the same settings on the web at gemini.google.com under Settings & help > Personal Intelligence > Connected Apps.

For Workspace features more broadly, open Gmail settings, go to the General tab, and review Smart features. There is a link to Manage Workspace smart feature settings. The toggle for Smart features in other Google products covers Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app and in Search.

Adjust Ad Personalization in My Ad Center

Even with connections enabled, you control ad personalization separately.

1. Go to myadcenter.google.com and sign in.
2. Look for the Personalized ads card or option.
3. Set Personalized ads to Off if you want non-personalized ads based on general factors like time of day or page content.
4. Under Manage Privacy, review Activity used to personalize ads. You can turn off use of Web & App Activity, YouTube History, or other sources for ads.

Turning off personalized ads does not remove ads entirely. It reduces the use of your account activity and connected content inferences for targeting.

You can also limit ads about sensitive topics such as alcohol or gambling from the same page.

What Happens When You Disconnect or Delete Data

Disconnecting an app does not automatically erase information already used in past Gemini chats or saved in Search Services History. To remove specific knowledge Gemini has about you:

• Delete relevant chats from Gemini Apps Activity or Recent chats.
• Then disconnect the source app so it cannot be referenced again.

Changes you make to data inside Gmail or Photos (deleting an email or photo) may take time to reflect in Gemini personalization.

Google states that advertisers never receive your raw Gmail, Drive, or Photos content or personally identifying information without your explicit request.

Tips for Balancing Usefulness and Privacy

• Connect only the apps that deliver clear value for your tasks, such as Calendar for scheduling help or Photos for specific searches.
• Use temporary chats in Gemini when you want a conversation without personalization or activity saving.
• Review My Ad Center periodically, especially after enabling new AI features.
• Keep Web & App Activity and Gemini Apps Activity settings aligned with your preferences, as they affect both personalization and available history.
• If you use Android, consider additional device-level privacy tools. Our guide on Private Space shows how to hide sensitive apps.

Conclusion

The October 2026 policy update makes the connection between Personal Intelligence and ad personalization more explicit. You remain in control: connections are opt-in, and ad settings live in My Ad Center.

Review your Connected Apps in Gemini, adjust Search personalization if needed, and set Personalized ads according to your preference. These steps take only a few minutes and let you keep useful AI features while limiting how your Gmail and Photos data influences ads.

Sources

• Google Privacy Policy
• Connect your Google apps to personalize your Gemini experience
• My Ad Center
• Personal Intelligence announcement